Ayr

Locale

The position of Ardwell within Mauchline and some of the features of the village are shown on the map, below.

Please use the above maps to find Mauchline then follow the directions below to find Ardwell.

Approaching on B743 from Ayr: follow the B743 for approx 7 miles until you enter Mauchline. Ardwell is located 400m into the town on the right hand side. Please park in our front yard and come to the B&B entrance which is at the side of the house.

Approaching on A76 from Cumnock/Dumfries direction: Drive through Mauchline until you come to the traffic lights in the centre of the town. Turn left down Loudoun Street for Ayr. Ardwell is located 500m down this road on the left hand side. Please park in our front yard and come to the B&B entrance which is at the side of the house.

Approaching on A76 from Kilmarnock direction: Drive through Mauchline until you come to the traffic lights in the centre of the town. Turn right down Loudoun Street for Ayr. Ardwell is located 500m down this road on the left hand side. Please park in our front yard and come to the B&B entrance which is at the side of the house

Mauchline is only 15/20 minutes from Ayr, Kilmarnock and Cumnock. Prestwick Airport is only a 15 minute drive whilst Glasgow airport is 50 minutes away. Ayr Racecourse and Auchinleck and Prestwick indoor bowling arenas are close by. Mauchline is an ideal stopping point on the road from the North of Scotland to England or to Ireland, through the ports of Troon, Stranraer or Cairnryan (go to the routes page for relevant ferry links).

History

The village of Mauchline is very old and is linked with many historical persons and events. In the 12th century it was the administrative capital of the Cistercian monks' estate of Kylesmuir. The Abbot's tower also known as Mauchline castle still exists. This was built in the 15th century as an administrative building for the monk's chamberlain.

For more information on Mauchline visit this web site http://www.mauchlinevillage.co.uk

Robert Burns

Most famous of all are Mauchline's links with Scotland's national bard. Burns moved to Mossgiel farm on the village's outskirts in 1784 and enjoyed his most prolific writing period here. Works on Holy Willie, The Mauchline Belles, The Holy Fair and many, many more were penned during his time here.

Mauchline is remarkably unchanged since Burn's time and many of the buildings he frequented are still here.

The churchyard has the graves of many of the friends and family immortalised in his verse.

At the top of the town you can find the Burns National Memorial and there is a Burns Museum (http://www.robertburns.org/museum) located in the town centre.

Two of the local inns used by Burns are still open. These are The McClellan Inn (now the Fairburn) and Poosie Nancie's.

Other points of interest

Mauchline has the world's only curling stone factory producing high quality granite stones.

In the last century Mauchline was also famous for producing snuff boxes and Mauchline stoneware. Examples can be seen at the Burns museum mentioned above.

Bus Services

There are two bus services run by Stagecoach; the X76 to Glasgow/Cumnock and the No. 43 between Ayr/Mauchline/Cumnock. See the Stagecoach website for current information on timetables.